Anaesthesia in various anterior segment complications of sub-Tenon surgeries

The sub-Tenon's space is a potential space between the capsule and the sclera. This study evaluated complications from sub-Tenon's anaesthesia in different corneal and anterior chamber ophthalmic surgical procedures.

The prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the Baqai Medical University, Karachi, from March 2010 to August 2011, and comprised 149 patients for various minor and major intraocular surgeries. All the patients were operated under sub-Tenon's anaesthesia, administered in the inferio-nasal quadrant with a 19G cannula.Their complications were noted on a specific proforma. Data was analysed for frequencies of complications. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis.

There were 82 (55%) males and 67 (45%) females who underwent surgery. There were 89 (59.7%) right eyes and 60 (40%) left eyes. The commonest surgery was phaco-emulsification (n = 79; 53%), followed by extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation (n = 33; 22.1%). Subconjuctival haemorrhage (n = 75; 50.3%) was the commonest complication, and the least common was pain during injection (n = 9; 6%).

There was no incidence of life-threatening or sight-threatening complications. The procedure was almost pain free and can be simply, safely and effectively given by the beginners with due precautions.